Jan. 25, 2015
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#2 Oklahoma 4, #28 Northwestern 1 Gregg Wadley Indoor Tennis Pavilion • Norman, Okla. Results |
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NORMAN, Okla. -- No. 28 Northwestern gave No. 2 Oklahoma a run for its money in their group's championship match at the ITA Kick-Off, but the highly-ranked Sooners ultimately prevailed 4-1. With the win, OU secures a spot in the ITA National Indoor Championships in February.
To begin, the 'Cats rallied for two doubles wins to clinch the lead-off point . Fedor Baev and Strong Kirchheimer won 6-3 at No. 2, and Sam Shropshire and Alp Horoz prevailed by the same margin at No. 3.
With four ranked singles opponents in the Sooners' lineup, singles play was bound to be a challenge. No. 14 Axel Alvarez overcame Staggs 6-2, 6-2 at No. 2 to even the score, and Horoz pushed Jose Salazar to three frames but lost 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 at No. 6.
Each of the remaining singles contests were very competitive, a situation reminiscent of last year's NU-Oklahoma match at the ITA Kick-Off weekend.
At No. 1, 20th-ranked Andrew Harris narrowly defeated Shropshire 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to put the Sooners up 3-1. No. 33 Dane Webb then closed it for Oklahoma with a close 7-5, 7-5 win over 108th-ranked Kirchheimer at No. 5.
When the match finished, Mihir Kumar had just won a tight second set at No. 4 to force the third. Baev was engaged in a close final frame against No. 50 Alex Ghilea at No. 5, leaving off down 5-7, 6-2, 4-5.
Now 2-2, the Wildcats play next at Notre Dame this Friday, Jan. 30 at 4:30 p.m. They then return to Evanston for their 2015 home-opener on Sunday, Feb. 1, a doubleheader against Duke at 11 a.m. and UIC at 6 p.m.
For more information on the ITA Kick-Off, visit the ITA website.
#2 Oklahoma 4, #28 Northwestern 1
Doubles Results
1. #38 Axel Alvarex/Dane Webb (OU) def. Alex Pasareanu/Mihir Kumar (NU) 6-3
2. Strong Kirchheimer/Fedor Baev (NU) def. Spencer Papa/Andrew Harris (OU) 6-3
3. Sam Shropshire/Alp Horoz (NU) def. Alex Ghilea/Florin Bragusi (OU) 6-3
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2*
Singles Results
1. #20 Andrew Harris (OU) def. Sam Shropshire (NU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
2. #14 Axel Alvarez (OU) def. Logan Staggs (NU) 6-2, 6-2
3. #33 Dane Webb (OU) def. #108 Strong Kirchheimer (NU) 7-5, 7-5
4. Mihir Kumar (NU) vs. Spencer Papa (OU) 2-6, 7-6, 0-1 (unfinished)
5. Fedor Baev (NU) vs. #50 Alex Ghilea (OU) 5-7, 6-2, 4-5 (unfinished)
6. Jose Salazar (OU) def. Alp Horoz (NU) 2-6, 6-2, 6-0
Order of finish: 2, 6, 1, 3*
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